williams



t e e h S .m. e G h S 3 S M A l. L L H m d 0 M 0 W PREPAYMBNT ATTACHMENT FOR METERS.

No. 546,265. Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

INVENTOR WITNESSES" ATTORNEYS.

ANDREW B GRAHAM Pumoumo WASMNGTON 0C (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. W. WILLIAMS. PREPAYMENT ATTACHMENT FOR METERS.

Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

3, INVENTOH WITNESSES: %%ZM A7TORNEYS.

ANDMW B GRAMMJMOTOMTWQ WAs nmamno c (No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet H. W. WILLIAMS.

PREPAYMBNT ATTACHMENT FOR METERS.

No. 546,265. Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

INVENTOH 1' A TTOHNE Y8.

WITNESSES:

ANDREW BGRAHAMPHOIGUTHO wnsmuwun DC HUGH WEBSTER W'ILLIAMS, OF SEATTLE, \VASIIINGTON, ASSIGNOH 'l() SEATTLE METER (10., OF SAME PLACE.

PREPAYMENT ATTACHMENT FOR METERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,265. dated September 10, 1 895.

Application filed September 4, 1894. Serial No. 522,130. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH WEBSTER W11.- LIAMS, of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a new and Improved Prepayment Attachment for Meters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in gas and other meters, and more particularly to controlling mechanism which may he used in connection with any meter; and the object of my invention is to produce a simple apparatus for use in connection with a meter, which apparatus is constructed in such a way that by depositing a coin in the coin-chute of the machine the meter may be unlocked, so that the commodity will flow through the machine to the value of the deposited coin, after which the commodity will be automatically shut 0d.

Another object of my invention is to producea machine which may beinstantly adapted for use in connection with a commodity sold atdifierent prices, and, further, to provide means for selling by the machine a relatively large amount of commodity.

To these ends my invention consists of certain features of construction and combina tions of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is abroken side elevation of a gasmeter provided with my improved coincontrolled apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a broken cross-section showing the controlling pin -wheel and its connection. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the stop mechanism released from the pin-wheel and meter, so as to permit the latter to work. Fig. 6 is a broken detail elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of chute adapted for use in connection with an apparatus designed to sell gas in comparatively large quantities. Fig. 7 is avertical section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View of a modified arrangement of the chute,

which enables various sizes of coins to he used in the coin-chute without changing the meter and attachments; and Fig. 10 is a dotail sectional view on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

The apparatus is inclosed in a suitable case 10, forming a part of the metencase, and on the sides of the case are the usual supply and return pipes ll and 12, the connections of which are not shown, as they form 110 part of this invention. I have also shown in a general way (see Fig. 2) the stop-levers ll, controlling the meter-supply, these being shown in connection with a crank 15, which when stopped stops the flow ot the commodity, and, as illustrated, this crank is stopped by stop-rod 16; but I have shown the stop-rod in connection with the crank merely as a mattor of convenience, and it will be understood that the said stop-rod may by its vertical movement be made to control any ordinary Wet or dry machine. As shown, however, when the rod is raised it permits the crank 15 to turn and the meter to work, and when the rod is depressed it extends into the path of the crank and stops it.

The stop-rod 16 slides in a guide 17 and is hung on one end of a bell-crank lever 18, which is pivoted at its elbow, as shown at if], to the back of the chute 22, and which has its short vertical arm provided at the lower end with a coin-plate 20, which has a hole 21 in the middle,so that a coin must be placed between the coin-plate and the push-rod before the latter can tilt the bell-crank lever 18, as hereinafter described, for otherwise the pushrod will go through the coin-plate without actuating the lever. The coin-plate is arranged opposite the foot of the coin-chute 2'3, which extends into the case 10 from the top, and near the bottom of which are pins 23, on which a coin may rest, these pins being suiticiently far apart to support a coin of the right dimension and sufliciently asunder to permit a coin which is too small to drop through.

The coin-plate 20 is arranged opposite a push-rod 2i, which projects outward through the front of the case and terminates in a push-button 25, and the push-rod 24: is normally pushed out by a spring 26, which encircles it and is held in a suitable sleeve 27.

The push-rod is adapted to enter the chute, as shown in Fig. l, and if no coin is in the chute tho push-rod passes through the hole 2i in the coin-plate and does not move the lever 18; but it a coin is in the chute, as shown in Fig. 3, the push-rod moves the coin against the coin-plate, so as to tilt the lever and push the coin oil the pins and as soon as the pressure on the rod is released the coin drops into the cash-box below.

The lever 18 carries a pawl 28, which is adapted to drop into the peripheral notches in of the pin-wheel :30, which is secured to a shaft :31, journalcd on a bracket 32, which also supports the other moving parts of the mechanism, and the shaft 31 projects outward through the ease, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and carries a hand or pointer 33, which moves over a dial 3i, suitably numbered and arranged to indicate either the number of feet of gas consumed or the value thereof.

The pin-wheel 30 provided on one side with tmneentric rows of pins 35, 3t and 37, arranged to engage a cog-wheel 38 on the vertical spindle PE), and the pin-wheel will be driven relatively fast or slow according to which set of pins are in engagement with the cogavheel. The spindle iii) of the cog-wheel connects by gear-wheels it) and 41 with the spindle if of the ordinary meter mechanism, so that when the latter is working the spindle SJ, cog-wheel 38, and pinion 30 will also revolve. lhe cog-wheel 38 is movable up and down on thespindle 39, to which it is keyed, so that it may be brought into contact with either row of pins on the pin-wheel, and to enable it to be moved readily it has agrooved collar 13 attached, which is adapted to engage the forked end 44: of the vertically-tilting lever 45, which is fulcrumcd near the ccnter, as shown at 4 1, and at its front end is engaged, as shown at 4.7, by a vertically-movable screw 48, which turns in a fixed nut -18, and has at its lower end a thumbwvheel 40, by which it may be turned, and by moving the screw up and down the lover may be tilted and the cog-wheel adjusted.

The thumb-screw i8 is for convenience arranged in the upper part of the cash-box 5i, which is below the chute 22, and which is reached by means of a suitable door 50. The lever l5 carries near its innerend an arm 52, which moves in a slot 51- of the case 10, and has at its outer end a pointer 53, moving oppnsite numerals 55,indicatingdifferentprices of gas, each price being adapted for use in connection with a row of pins on the pinwheel, as described below. It a quantity of. the commodity is to be sold and the price is two dollars per thousand feet, the cog-wheel it is adjusted so as to mesh with the inner row 37 of pins, so as to move the pin-wheel 3O relatively fast, the coin is dropped into the chute :32, the push-rod 2i pushed in,and this tilts the lever 1.8, raises the rod 16, so as to release the crank 15 and lift the pawl 28 front the notch :35, in which it happens to be,

and as soon as this is done the pawl rides on the smooth face of the pin-wheel, which starts when the meter starts by reason of the gear connection above described, and the commodity continues to flow until the pawl comes opposite another notch in the pin-wheel, at which point the lever 18 drops,thus stopping the pin-wheel, while the stop-rod Ilti descends into the path of the crank 15, thus shutting off the gas-supply, and it will be understood that suitable connections may be made with the stop-rod, so as to shutoff the supply, when it is desired, in any usual way.

It the price of the commodity is one dollar and fifty cents for a certain quantity, the cogwheel 38 is thrown in connection with the row of pins 36, so that the pin-wheel will not move quite so fast, thus permitting a longer flow of the commodity, and if the price is one dollar for a certain quantity of the commodity the cog-wheel is thrown into engagement; with the pins 35. It will thus be seen that any necessary number of rows of pins may be provided on the pin'wheel, so that the machine may be adapted for any reasonable variation of price.

In Figs. 6 to S I have shown a modified form of chute adapted for use in connection with a machine intended to sell comparatively large quantities of the commodity, and, as hereillustratod, the chute 22 is extended downward into the machine, so that five coins of the re quired dimension may be held between the bottom of the chute and the coin-plate 20, and it will of course be understood that the chute may be made to hold a greater or less number of coins. To the lower edge of the coinplate is pivoted a tilting lever 56, which lies substantially parallel with the lower portion of the coin-chute 22 and is fulcrumed near the center, as shown at 57, while at its lower end is a bent arm 58, which is doubled around one edge of the chute and extends into it, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the coins dropped into the chute are supported on the arm 58; but as this is near one side of the chute a coin which is too small will drop through.

\Vhcn the requisite number of coins are dropped into the chute, they will lie edgewise one on the other, and the upper one will come opposite the coin-plate 20, so that when the push-rod is shoved inward it will move the coin against the plate 20 and release the meter and open the commodity supply, as

IIO

above described, while at the same time the In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown an arrangement of the chute which is preferable to either arrangement already described, as it enables coins of different denominations to be used in the same chute, so that in case a party wishes to buy his gas or other commodity in twenty-five-cent quantities he can do so, or the chute may be very conveniently arranged so that he may buy the said commodity in fifty-cent or one-dollar quantities without changing anything except the coin-chute. To this end the chute is provided opposite the lower portion of the coin-plate 20 with a series of removable pins or screws 59, 90, and 61, (see Figs. 9 and 10,) and these are spaced so that when only the pin 59 is in place a dollar will just fill the space between the pin and the opposite side of the chute, so as to be held in place against the coin-plate 20, while it the pins 59 and 61 are in place the space between them will be such as to enable a half dollar to be supported on them, and it the pins 59 and arein place they will be spaced so as to hold a quarter of a dollar in proper position opposite the coin-plate.

In accordance with the arrangement of the chute just described it will of course be understood that the rows of pins 36 and 35 must be arranged so as to be multiples of the inner row of pins 37, the row of pins 36 containing twice as many pins as the row 37 and the row 35 containing four times as many. It now the party using the machine is desirous of buying his gas or other commodity in twentyfive-cent quantities, the wheel 38 is adjusted so as to engage the row of pins 37 and the pins 59 and G0 are placed in the chute so that a twenty-five-cent piece may be supported thereon opposite the coin-plate 20, and the machine is worked in the manner already described. If, however, the party using the machine desires to buy the commodity in fifty-cent quantities, the pins 59 and 61 are placed in the chute and the pin 60 removed, while the wheel 38 is thrown into mesh with the row of pins 36, and thus the chute is adapted to receive fifty-cent pieces, and the machine is arranged to run twice as long as formerly, and if the party desires to buy in one-dollar quantities all the pins except the pin 59 are removed and the Wheel 38 thrown into mesh with the row of pins 35, and thus the chute is adapted to receive dollars, and the machine is arranged to run four times as long as when the wheel 38 is in engagement with the pins 37.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a meter, and a coin chute leading into the same, of a wheel geared with the meter mechanism, a tilting lever for holding the wheel stationary, having one end extending adjacent to the coin chute, a perforated coin plate on the end of the lever adjacent to the coin chute, and a push rod for forcing a coin against the coin plate, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a meter, and a coin chn te leading into the same, of a wheel geared with the meter mechanism, a tilting lever for locking the wheel having one end extending adjacent to the coin chute, a perforated coin plate secured to the end of the lever adjacent to the coin chute, means for holding coins of diiterent values in the coin chute, and a push rod projecting into the coin chute for forcing the coin out of the same to operate the tilting lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a meter, and a coin chute leading into the same, of a notched wheel in the meter, gearing between the wheel and the meter mechanism, a tilting lever provided with a pawl engaging the notched wheel and having one end extending adjacent to the coin chute, and a push rod projecting into the coin chute for forcing a coin out of the same to operate the tilting lever, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a meter, and a coin chute leading into the same, of a notched wheel, gearing between the said wheel and the meter mechanism, a tilting lever having one end extending adjacent to the coin chute and provided with a coin plate thereon, a pawl carried by the lever and engaging the notched wheel, a stop rod carried by the said lever and adapted to control the supply of the meter, and a push rod projecting into the coin chute, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the meter, the notched wheel and the adjustable gear connection between the wheel and the meter mechanism, of the tilting lever provided with a pawl to engage the notched wheel, a stop rod carried by the lever and adapted to control the meter supply, a coin chute, a coin plate near the chute and on one end of the lever, a push rod opposite the coin plate, and devices for holding coins of different sizes between the push rod and the coin plate, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the meter controlling mechanism, the tilting lever regulating said mechanism and the coin plate on the lever, of the coin chute arranged opposite the coin plate, the push rod near the plate, and the removable pins arranged in the chute near the plate and rod, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the meter, of the peripherally notched wheel having concentric rows of pins on one side, the cog wheel having agear connection with the meter mechanism, means for throwing the cog wheel into gear with either row of pins, a tilting lever carrying a pawl to engage the pin-wheel, a stop rod to control the commodity supply of the meter, and a coin-governed push rod to tilt the lever, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the pin-wheel having concentric rows of pins therein, and the coin-controlled mechanism to lock and release the pin-wheel, of the cog wheel geared to the meter mechanism and adapted to engage either set of pins, the lever for moving the cog Wheel, and a price indicator actuated by the lever, substantially as described.

0. The combination, with the pin-Wheel having concentric rows of pins thereon, the meter mechanism, and the coin-controlled mechanism for locking and releasing the pinwhcel, of the cog Wheel geared to the meter mechanism and adapted to engage either row of pin-wheels, the pivoted lever for moving the cog wheel,and the screw for working the pivoted lever, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a meter, and a coin chute leading into the same, of a wheel in the meter, differential gearing between the wheel and the meter mechanism, a tilting lever for locking said wheel, having one end extending adjacent to the coin chute, and

means for forcing the coin out of the chute to operate the tilting lever, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a meter, having a coin chute leading into the same, of a notched Wheel, differential gearing between the notched wheel and the meter mechanism, a tiltinglever extending adjacent to the coin chute, a pawl carried by the lever and engaging the notched Wheel, a perforated coin plate on the end of the lever adjacent to the coin chute, and a push rod for forcinga coin against the coin plate to operate the tilting lever, substantially as described.

IIUGII \VEBSTER WILLIAMS. \Vitnesses:

.LREADMAN, O. C. McGILvRA. 

